How Manchester City could line up against Cardiff City

Manchester City are looking to get back to winning ways when they return to Premier League action on Saturday with a trip to relegation battlers Cardiff City.

The Citizens have won four of their opening five top-flight matches, but they fell to a surprise 2-1 loss at home to Lyon in the Champions League in midweek.

That defeat only compounded Pep Guardiola's misery, having been left frustrated by his side's showing in their 3-0 win against Fulham last weekend.

With plenty of selection decisions to be made, Sports Mole looks at how Man City might line up for their trip to South Wales.

Out: Eliaquim Mangala (knee), Kevin De Bruyne (knee), Claudio Bravo (Achilles) Doubtful: Danilo (ankle), Benjamin Mendy (ankle)

Despite upping his fitness regime over the past week, City will definitely be without key creative man De Bruyne this weekend, while fringe players Mangala and Bravo are also confirmed absentees.

There is a big question mark over the fitness of left-back Mendy, who started the season in impressive form before being struck down by an ankle injury that has seen him miss the Citizens' last two matches.

Fabian Delph remains on standby if the World Cup-winning defender misses out on inclusion, and Danilo's own fitness concerns means that Kyle Walker should stay in his traditional right-back role.

The other concern for Guardiola is in attack, as Sergio Aguero was not fit enough to play a full part in the midweek loss to Lyon, but he is expected to start against Cardiff in place of Gabriel Jesus.

Raheem Sterling and a reinvigorated Leroy Sane are the favourites to flank Aguero, who has scored 12 goals and set up two more in his last 12 outings against newly-promoted sides.

> Click here to see how Cardiff City could line up for this fixture